Hibiscus plant named ‘Tortuga Wind’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Tortuga Wind’, characterized by its upright, somewhat outwardly spreading, uniformly mounded and dense plant habit appropriate for container production; glossy dark green-colored leaves; uniform, freely and early flowering habit; bright red-colored flowers; and good postproduction and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘TORTUGA WIND’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Hibiscus plant, botanically known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Tortuga Wind’.

The new Hibiscus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Alva, Fla. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching Hibiscus plants with a dense, uniform and compact plant habit appropriate for container production, early and uniform flowering habit, numerous flowers per lateral branch, desirable flower color and good garden performance.

The new Hibiscus plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Alva, Fla. in September, 2007 of a proprietary selection of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis identified as code number YB-2178, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Pink Kai’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,416, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hibiscus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alva, Fla. on Sep. 3, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alva, Fla. since February, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Tortuga Wind’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Tortuga Wind’ as a new and distinct Hibiscus plant:

-   -   1. Upright, somewhat outwardly spreading, uniformly mounded and         dense plant habit appropriate for container production.     -   2. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Uniform, freely and early flowering habit.     -   4. Bright red-colored flowers.     -   5. Good postproduction and garden performance.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more compact than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus are brighter red in         color than flowers of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Pink Kai’. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ from plants of ‘Pink Kai’ primarily in flower color as plants of ‘Pink Kai’ have dark pink-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Hibiscus have smaller flowers than plants of ‘Pink Kai’.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Baja Breeze’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,607. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the new Hibiscus differed from plants of ‘Baja Breeze’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus were more vigorous than plants of         ‘Baja Breeze’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more low temperature tolerant         than plants of ‘Baja Breeze’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Hibiscus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hibiscus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘Tortuga Wind’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Tortuga Wind’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 15-cm containers in a fiberglass-covered greenhouse in Alva, Fla. and under environmental conditions and cultural practices which closely approximate commercial Hibiscus production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 38° C., night temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 24° C. and light levels ranged from 3,000 to 4,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched two times and were 25 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Tortuga Wind’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus             rosa-sinensis identified as code number YB-2178.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Pink Kai’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,416. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 days at temperatures of 24°             C.         -   Time to develop roots.—About four weeks at temperatures of             24° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial, evergreen, upright,             somewhat outwardly spreading, compact, uniformly mounded and             dense; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with lateral             branches potentially develop at every node; pinching             enhances lateral branch development.         -   Plant height.—About 36 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 33 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 25 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2.1 cm.         -   Aspect.—Upright to slightly outwardly spreading.         -   Texture.—Immature, smooth; mature, woody and rough.         -   Color, immature.—Close to 146A.         -   Color, mature.—Close to 197A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous; symmetrical.         -   Length.—About 7.7 cm.         -   Width.—About 7.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate with cordate tendencies.         -   Apex.—Acute to acuminate.         -   Base.—Obtuse to cordate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Glossy.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Somewhat glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: More green than             N137A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137A.             Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker green than             147A; venation, darker green than 147A. Fully expanded             leaves, lower surface: Close to 137A to 137B; venation, more             green than 144A.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 3.9 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Rounded star-shaped             flowers arranged at terminal leaf axils; uniform and freely             flowering habit with about four flowers per terminal;             flowers face mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Hibiscus flower             naturally during the spring and summer or during periods of             warm weather; plants flower year-round in the greenhouse.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about two to three days on             the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 10.2 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 6.75 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Resistance to abscission during shipping: Plants             of the new Hibiscus have been observed to resist flower bud             drop when stored in a closed box for five days at 13° C.             Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm. Shape: Ovoid.             Color: Darker green than 144A.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of five petals that             are fused at base; petals imbricate. Length: About 6.7 cm.             Width: About 5.75 cm. Shape: Roughly spatulate. Apex:             Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; veins prominent on the             lower surface. Color: When opening, upper surface: Between             42A and 45A; towards the base, close to 53A. When opening,             lower surface: Close to 45A to 45B. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 45A; towards the base, close to 53A; color             does not fade with development. Fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 45A to 45B; color does not fade with development.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a tubular             star-shaped calyx. Length: About 2.4 cm. Width: About             1.1 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Sharply acute. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; waxy.             Texture, lower surface: Slightly pubescent. Color, upper             surface: Close to 144A. Color, lower surface: More green             than 144A.         -   Bracts.—Appearance: About eight fused at base. Length: About             1.5 cm. Width: About 4 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous.             Texture, lower surface: Sparsely pubescent. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 137A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Aspect: Upright. Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,             about 50 per flower. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament             color: Close to 45A. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length:             About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 9A. Amount of pollen:             Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 9A. Gynoecium: Pistil number:             One per flower. Pistil length: About 6 cm. Style length:             About 5.2 cm. Style texture: Smooth, glabrous; waxy. Style             color: Close to 46A. Stigma appearance: Five-parted,             rounded. Stigma color: Close to 59A. Ovary color: Close to             11D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been             observed on plants of the new Hibiscus. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 38° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus grown under     Florida production conditions have not been shown to be susceptible     to pathogens common to Hibiscus such as Pseudomonas, Pythium and     Phytophthora. Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed to     be resistant to pests and other pathogens. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Tortuga Wind’ as illustrated and described. 